Brazil is negotiating access to software for its nuclear submarine with France

Brazil is negotiating access to software for its nuclear submarine with France

Posted On
Friday, 25 November 2011 09:33

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World
Naval Forces News - Brazil / France

Brazil
is negotiating access to software for its nuclear submarine with France

Brazil
may obtain a transfer of software technology for the nuclear submarine
that it is planning to build in partnership with France. This statement
comes from the director of Serviço Federal de Dados Processamento
(Serpro), Marcos Mazoni. This technology transfer is not covered by
the agreements already signed, but according to Mazoni, the discussions
are heading in the right direction and Brazil should have access to
source code that control equipments. "It is certain that Brazil
will obtain the transfer."

Mazoni says
the Serpro started the talks last year about the technology transfer
of software used in the submarine during the first meetings on technical
cooperation with France in the field of supercomputers. From that moment,
the Brazilian technicians begun to address the issue of softwares for
the submarine. "They say the product is open, we want to see the
product and transfer its knowledge," says Mazon.

French
Navy Rubis class SSN (Saphir)
(picture: Guillaume Rueda)

Access to software source codes, says President of
Serpro, is fundamental to understand how the submarine works. According
to Mazon, the Brazilian military is concerned with the technology transfer
of the software and equipment they buy.

The agreement between Brazil and France to build the first nuclear
submarine is part of the Brazilian Navy Submarines Development Program
(Prosub), for a total of € 6.7 billion. Apart from nuclear equipment,
the program includes the construction of four submarines with French
technology. The vessels will be built in Brazil under French supervision,
and with technology transfer.

Note that Marcos
Mazoni is unclear on the type of software: is it the software
of the nuclear reactor or those for the combat system ?

Anyhow, France has limited its participation in the non-nuclear part of the submarine.